Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-22
INCENDIARY'S WORK.
BARNUM'S GREAT SHOW THE VICTIM OF A
MALBvOLBNT FIRE PIRND.
The Night Watchman's StOry-KnOcked SenSslsSs
With Olub-Thrillng Scenes About the Con-
aagration-Killlng and Capturing the
Animals-LOSs Less Than Reported.

| BRIDGEPORT, SONN', November %l'-
There seems to be considerable foundation
for the story that the destruction OF the
animals quarters of Barnum's circus last
night was the work of an incendisry.
One of the watchmen, George NJ. Myers,
was making his rounds about 10 O'Clock
when he discovered flames in one corner of
the building where the horses are kept.
He rushed around the building to alarm
other employees, when he was knocked
senseless by some one with club.
Myers lay On the ground unconscious for
twenty minutes, and when he revived half
of the building was in flames. He awak-
ened the sleepers in he building, and
some one rushed to an alarm box half
mile away and pulled it, neglecting to
sound the alarm from box located at the
entrance to the grounds. This caused a
delay of half IN hour in the arrival of the
fire department. When it did come it
could do nothing beyond saving the ada
cent buildings from being destroyed.
In the meantime twenty. eight elephants
were turned loose. The white elephant,
Sampson, and Alice were roasted to death.
The other elephants rushed about the city,
and one fell on a man, breaking three of
his ribs and one leg. The old lion, which
was often seen on the top of the chariot in
street professions, was hauled out of the
flames by his keeper, VIM. Bulkeley. As
soon as the lion WAS out of the building
the crowd
ATTEMPTED TO KILL HIM
by beating his head with clubs and firing
shots into him from revolver. He was
secured and placed in a pen, hat broke ont,
and, scaling q ten-fOOt fence, took refuge in
a barn, where he killed COW. He was
shot while making breakfast of fresh
meat
The cries Of the burning animals were
heartrending. Through the flames could
be seen the tigers, leopards aud other ami
mails dashiDg frantiCally about their cages
and finally Succumbiug to the smoke and
flame. The elephants rushed madly about
the streets, lashing their burned and torn
sides with their trunks and scattering the
crowd in ali directions. 1t is reported that
several men were picked up and thrown
over fences and more or less injured. The
birds were all in New York City at Cen
trail Park
In the paint shops were many of the
handsome chariots undergoing repairs.
These were wheeled out as fast rs possible,
but not without injury. At midnight,
hot h,l LIT 1,aa,, ha hNY,a
OF some of the wonders of the earth, lay a
heap of smOulderug ruins from which as
cended the udors OF burning flesh. This
iron cages, twisted in all ways and still in
candeScent, stood out prominently
AMONG THE RUINS
against the dark background of the night
beyond
Among the animals destroyed were four
elephants, five lions, seven lrOpards six
panthsrS, four kdngdrOOs, SIX horses, and a
large number of smaller beasts. Among
the elephants burned were Alice, Sampson
and the sacred white elephant; one OF the
Caged escaped, aud this morning was found
drowned in tle Sound, near the light
house, where it had gone in its flight.
ASlue from InlS, lue only tnltndls ildt tS-
capped beyond the grounds, was a large
lion, which wandered into Christopher
Richards barn yard, where it attacked q
a COW and call, making an early break
fast of the latter. Mrs. Richards under
took to drive the beast away, not knowing
or realizing the nature Of the beast, until
warned by neighbcr, when she made o
hasty retreat. The animal was shot soon
after by one Of the circus employees. Alto
Made, an elephant trainer, by his heroic
efforts saved eighteen elephants.
Mr.. Bailey said this morning that $780,
600 would probably cover the loss. The
lost animals and all the paraphernalia de
StrOyed
WOULD BE REPLACED
as soon as possible, and last nights fire
would not interfere with next seasons
show. The insurance, placed through
Staples & Co, on the building and prop
erty burned is as follows: Building, ST.,
125; animals, S35,OOO. Of the latter
amount $500 was on the elephants
bur ed and 81, $50 on the hippopotamus
The building will be rebuilt as soon as
possible. Besides the above property de-
stIoyed were two of the largest chariots,
known as the Neptune" and the Green
TableauX.'